Ericsson has been selected by SoftBank as the Evolved Packet Core supplier to support its nationwide deployment of Cat-M1 and NB-IoT network.
SoftBank aims to be first to market with commercial cellular IoT services. Ericsson delivers Cat-M1 support as a software upgrade to SoftBank's existing Evolved Packet Core, and NB-IoT using Ericsson virtual Evolved Packet Core and Cloud Execution Environment.
Cat-M1 and NB-IoT-enabled IoT devices allow SoftBank to cost effectively extend their networks while creating new revenue streams for IoT services, said Ericsson.
According to Ericsson, its Massive IoT network solutions for Cat-M1 and NB-IoT -enabled IoT devices have advantages including low cost, low power consumption, deep coverage, massive connections and high reliability of transmission.
Combined with existing leading LTE coverage, SoftBank can deploy a range of IoT services in smart cities, logistics, utilities, medicine, transport, mining, agriculture, manufacturing and many more.
Junichi Miyakawa, EVP & CTO, Softbank
Ericsson's solutions in Cat-M1 and NB-IoT technology ensure that we will be able to go to market with highly competitive commercial cellular IoT services and play a role in leading the growth of the IoT market in Japan.
Mikael Eriksson, Head of Ericsson
With the expected rapidly increasing IoT devices and the new ecosystem, there will be many opportunities for new services and revenue streams for operators. Ericsson is very pleased to be selected by SoftBank and to deploy Cat-M1/NB-IoT technology and support SoftBank to connect this new ecosystem and deliver on these new opportunities.
